Let me begin by sincerely thanking one reader who took the time to send me a message regarding my article last week, “Death Will Eventually Catch Up with Us: Are We Prepared?”
I was truly humbled by his kind and motivating words. However, all glory belongs to God. I am merely a messenger sharing the wisdom and lessons that God places on my heart. May He continue to guide, strengthen, and bless us all.
This week, I would like to reflect on our democratic path and where our country stands today, 33 years after the advent of multiparty democracy. I believe it is important for us to ask ourselves: Are we truly maximising our potential as a nation?
Our country is blessed with enormous potential. We have fertile land, beautiful lakes, hardworking people, a youthful population, and abundant natural resources. We possess everything needed to become a prosperous and self-reliant nation.
Yet despite these blessings, we continue to struggle with poverty, unemployment, corruption, poor service delivery, and underdevelopment.
We still face challenges in providing quality healthcare, resulting in the spending of billions of kwacha sending the privileged mostly to India. Our children still walk long distances to attend classes, potable water remains a luxury, and economic opportunities are limited. The question is: Why?
The truth is that we have failed to fully use our potential. As a nation, we have settled for less than what we are capable of achieving. We have allowed politics, corruption, weak institutions, and misplaced priorities to stand in the way of progress.
Politically, we could be proudly saying that we enjoy fundamental f reedoms. However, these freedoms alone are not enough. Yes, economic freedoms are important, but people do not eat freedoms.
It is fair to say that our politicians have largely failed us. Our leaders, who are our gatekeepers, seem to have focused more on winning elections than on building a strong and productive economy.
It has been business as usual after winning elections, carrying on from where others left off: corruption, drain public resources, political intolerance, nepotism, and the same cycle of excuses and blame-games.
Thirty-three years after the introduction of multiparty democracy, we must honestly ask ourselves what we have achieved. Certainly, there have been gains. We cannot undermine ourselves; we have stronger democratic institutions, a more independent judiciary, an active civil society providing checks and balances, and a vibrant media.
We have also witnessed peaceful transfers of power and greater people’s participation in national affairs, these are notable achievements.
But democracy that does not translate into economic transformation and improved livelihoods for its citizens is a failed democracy. Our democracy must go beyond political freedoms and strive to deliver better services, jobs, healthcare, education, and wider economic opportunities for all. In simple terms, democracy must be felt in the daily lives of the people it serves.
As we forge ahead, Malawians must remain informed, actively participate in public affairs, hold leaders accountable, and reject nepotism in order to build national patriotism. Equally important, government must seriously invest in creating an environment that promotes economic growth, investment, job creation, entrepreneurship, and equal economic opportunities so that democracy delivers tangible improvements in the lives of Malawians.
To the young people, they should not lose faith in our democracy. The freedoms they enjoy today were achieved through sacrifice and determination.
Therefore, it is now their responsibility to protect those gains and help build a nation that fully uses its enormous potential. They must take up the mantle of the Malawi Agenda 2063 without apology. The space is theirs!
With the understanding that we are still in transition, we are reminded that democracy is not a destination but a journey. Our challenges must energise us to transform our political freedom into economic prosperity. Truly maximise our potential and become the nation Malawians deserve.
